Watch What You Teach

When we step on the floor to teach our players, what is it that we feel is important, what is it that we
really teach? Are there lessons inside of the ballhandling, shooting, etc?

Over the years, I have had great success in facilitating player's improvement. I have worked with NBA All-Stars, high school,
college and youth players. If I had not been successful, the player would not have come back and I would not have new players asking me for my time.

I don't believe I know any more basketball than anyone else. I don't think that I am better than anyone. I just know what works for me and
I know it has been very effective. My teaching style is different than most. I have different priorities and different methods. Some
agree with it, some don't. I am not saying it is any better than anyone but I am saying it is just different.

While others teach jump shooting, ball handling,
passing, etc., I
try to teach something different. No matter what level of player, regardless of age or sex, I teach one thing. I think it is the
most important skill any player can learn. I try to teach players not to fear failure.

I believe the fear of failure is the single largest impediment to learning and improvement. I think that the way we teach
what we teach might help instill fear of failure.

I grew up with the same work ethic that we all did, "Practice makes perfect." Then, I was introduced to the saying
that, "Only perfect practice makes perfect." For a long time, I bought into that, full force. I was so intent on "perfect practice"
that I made players afraid to act.

My insistence that players make every shot, commit no turnovers, allow no scores on defense actually forced my players
further and further away from what the objective was. I decided that maybe I should look at my methods.

Here are some things I have come to realize. Shooters that miss 55% of their shots are considered good shooters. In
baseball, if you fail 70% of the time, you have a chance to be a Hall of Famer. The greatest golfer ever, Tiger Woods,
loses 79% of his tournaments (if you are a Jack Nicklaus person, his win percentage is 9% - and that is the 2nd highest
win percentage ever). On the whole, sport is an exercise in failure. It's how you deal with that failure that determines
how good a player you are. You can either fear failure or you can accept it as part of the game and move on.

When I catch a player getting frustrated or angry because he has missed some shots, I will ask him, "If I could
give you some advice in the form of 3 words and tell you if you follow this advice you will never miss another
shot, would you like to hear it?" Invariably, the answer comes back, "Yes." So, I give them the 3 words, "Don't
shoot any."

If you don't shoot any, you won't miss any. As long as you shoot, you will miss. That is part of shooting. Accept
it and move on. As long as you play, you will make mistakes. Accept that premise and move on. Make the next play.

I think most of us will accept that line of thinking. But, do we, as coaches, contribute to instilling that fear of failure? Do we
insist on "perfect practice" and thereby point out all the times we are less than perfect? Do we lose patience with players after
multiple imperfect repetitions? Do we jump on players every time they make a mistake?
Do we tell our players, "I want you to play loose and free. I don't want you to worry about me. I don't want you to play the game looking over your shoulder."? And then jump
off the bench at the slightest mistake.

We, as coaches have to understand our complicity in creating players who play out of fear. Do we want players who are afraid to
fail so they are also afraid to try? In the guise of teaching, do we instill fear?

Perfection is a fine ideal, but to use it as a goal will lead to endless frustration and even resentment of the
game because nobody is perfect. If you expect perfection, you will always be let down.

A great illustration of this is 7th game hero and noted psychologist Ron Artest, of the L. A. Lakers. I was listening
to him on Dan LeBatard's local Miami radio show. He spoke of career, his psychiatrist and the playoffs. The conversation
came around to his shot in the 7th game. He spoke about his confidence in making that shot. He said that he really did
not understand why teams give him that shot. He pointed out that he is a 40% shooter from 3, which is one of the best
in the league (so he misses 60% of his shots but he is considered one of the best). LeBatard then says, "Maybe so, but
you still have thrown up some memorable clunkers, haven't you?" To which Artest responded, "Sure, but that doesn't
mean I can't make it. It just means I'm not perfect."

Interesting thought.

Recommended DVD's & eBook:

The Attack & Counter Skill Development System
This eBook & DVD's will improve your shooting, ballhandling, footwork, perimeter moves, post moves, finishing, aggressiveness, quickness, confidence, mentality, and your all-around game!
Designed by NBA skills coach Don Kelbick, this unique and comprehensive system is incredibly simple when compared to other skill development programs. Yet it works with NBA and pro players at the highest level... (more info)

Thank you so much for posting this.I love showing stuff like this to my 13 yr. old daughter.I keep trying to remind her that she is 13 and she's going to have many ups and downs - sport imitates life or vice versa. I love that you guys can balance the physical training with such supportive mental training.Keep it coming!

Thanks for bringing something to light that is so important. I haven't always put this into words as you have, however, I push the reality that a good attempt was made whether it was successful or not...especially if it was a good decision ....or not. Thanks again. Henri

I'm an independent coach for 6-7th grade boys and must fight to keep my boys from going to all those much bigger organizations because they advertise through every possible media. Although I try to make sure they understand they can make mistakes, at times I do forget this and focus on the trying to get the win. This article was very helpful to get me refocus on why I am coaching basketball.

This is great. I will share with my 15 year old daughter who is too hard on herself. This will also be good for my 13 yr old son who is afraid to miss a jumpshot because his coach might scream at him (Maybe I should also send it to his coach).

I agree with this article 100%! When my 4th grade girls make a mistake during a game and EXPECT to be taken out, I leave them in and have them run the exact same play. I want them to know that I am confident in them, and they should be also. I tell them It might work this time, or maybe not, but don't give up on yourself!

Well, game imperfections do provide new insights and unique learning opportunities for both the kids and the coach. Especially for the coach, who should be quick enough to realize what need and not to tell his/her players before, during and after the game. In a way, moving on is just preparing them not to lose the excitement of the players/kids and be able to do better (less turn-over? It's still imperfect, is it not?) the next time. Just love the game. I love the game. For me, I use it as a vehicle for my advocacy.

Thanks for this, I am helping to coach kindergarteners and first graders tomorrow, and I don't know much about coaching basketball. I was looking for some help, and found you! I 100% appreciate your philosophy, and it is perfect to teach these little kiddos!

I always believed in "Perfect practice makes perfect too".... I don't think I ever made my players afraid of making mistakes though.... heck, I made a few in my life and coaching career. :-) BUT, I understand what you are saying. I always enjoy your camps.

I just didn't want them doing things sloppy and not caring how they did things. I wanted them to be the best they could be.... and as for shooting.... NO one makes them all... all I wanted is for them to take GOOD shots.... shots they could make, not some running one handed hook from the corner.

Anybody that has played sports (on any level) will have a clunker or two..... I remember playing 2b in a softball game, ball is hit between me and 1b, I go to my left and I have one chance of getting him out... a back hand toss.... which ended up in a garbage can by the backstop.... too bad there was no place to hide. I am laughing now.... not so funny back then.

I couldnt agree more, and this is a point I try to stress with my players. I coach both a community league of 9/10 year olds and middle school basketball. For my middle school team, I write on the board:

I remind them that in life good people make mistakes, and when then they do, the best thing to do is admit the mistake, make the correction and then get right back up and get back to doing.

I think what you say also applies to coaches. As a newer coach, only been doing it for a couple of years, I have made, and continue to make, hopefully fewer as time goes on, mistakes. It is a learning process, and I remind my players that we are all learning here, we are all making mistakes, but we will take those mistakes and be better for it, the sooner we can get back to doing the right things, the better.